Department of Children and Families certification programs for employees and service providers; employment provisions for transition to community-based care.

(1) The Department of Children and Families is authorized to approve third-party credentialing entities, as defined in s. 402.40, for its employees and service providers to ensure that only qualified employees and service providers provide client services.

(2) The department shall develop and implement employment programs to attract and retain competent staff to support and facilitate the transition to privatized community-based care. Such employment programs shall include lump-sum bonuses, salary incentives, relocation allowances, or severance pay. The department shall also contract for the delivery or administration of outplacement services. The department shall establish time-limited exempt positions as provided in s. 110.205(2)(i), in accordance with the authority provided in s. 216.262(1)(c)1. Employees appointed to fill such exempt positions shall have the same salaries and benefits as career service employees.